Host Specificity Risk Assessment of Necremnus tutae Ribes & Bernardo (Hymenoptera: Eulophidae), a Parasitoid Wasp from the Native Range of Tuta absoluta (Meyrick) (Lepidoptera: Gelechiidae), on Four Non-Target Insect Species in Invaded Agroecosystems

doi:10.16409/j.cnki.2095-039x.2025.09.025

Abstract

Abstract: The tomato leafminer, Tuta absoluta (Meyrick), has become a major pest in tomato fields across both northern and southern China, with reported occurrences in over 20 provincial-level regions. Necremnus tutae Ribes & Bernardo, a host-feeding parasitoid native to South America and Europe, is a specialized natural enemy of T. absoluta and was introduced into China in 2019. To prevent potential non-target effects and ensure ecological safety following its release, we evaluated the host specificity of N. tutaeunder laboratory no-choice conditions, targeting four common non-target insect/pest species in tomato agroecosystems, which included two invasive species, the leafminer Liriomyza sativae (Blanchard) and the fall armyworm Spodoptera frugiperda (Smith), and two native species, the common cutworm Spodoptera litura (Fabricius) and the melon aphid Aphis gossypii (Glover). Behavioral assays revealed that N. tutaeexhibited limited predatory and stinging behaviors toward the 2^nd-instar larvae of L. sativae and the 1^st-instar larvae of S. litura, with total number of killed pests of 2.5 and 1.2 within 48 hours, corresponding to mortality rates of 12.5% and 6.0%, respectively. However, no oviposition behavior was observed on either species. Notably, N. tutaedisplayed complete rejection of the 1^st- and 2^nd-instar larvae of S. frugiperda and the adults of A. gossypii, with no killing behaviors (including parasitism, feeding, or stinging) detected. To quantify the ecological risk, two indices were calculated: the Reproductive Parasitism Risk Index (RI) and the Comprehensive Host Specificity Risk Index (CRI). Results showed that both RI and CRI values were 0 for all four non-target species, confirming that N. tutaeposes negligible ecological risk or risk-free to the tested four non-target organisms, supporting its safety for field release. This study provides critical insights into the host specificity of N. tutae, highlighting its potential as a safe and effective biocontrol agent against T. absoluta in China. The results offer scientific guidance for the sustainable utilization and standardized release of N. tutaein integrated pest management (IPM) of T. absoluta.

Key words: Tuta absoluta, Necremnus tutae, non-target risk, host specificity, risk assessment

CLC Number:

S476.3

ZHANG Guifen, WANG Hao, ZHANG Yibo, XIAN Xiaoqing, HUANG Cong, LI Tao, COLLATZ Jana, ARNÓ Judit, WAN Fanghao. Host Specificity Risk Assessment of Necremnus tutae Ribes & Bernardo (Hymenoptera: Eulophidae), a Parasitoid Wasp from the Native Range of Tuta absoluta (Meyrick) (Lepidoptera: Gelechiidae), on Four Non-Target Insect Species in Invaded Agroecosystems[J]. Chinese Journal of Biological Control, 2026, 42(5): 1055-1063.

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